Cream

Match Reportage debut from the monastically silent Bryan Murphy![/b]

A bright and very sunny Saturday morning greeted both teams to the Kingsfield for this Division 3 fixture. If the opposition's bag of same colour balls, full to bursting, and the collection of multi-coloured cones we any directional guide of the task ahead, this looked like a very organized outfit. That proved out over the next 70 minutes.

1 min: KO

A very close and tight first half ensued, with Hampton on top throughout. It was great to see Ben Roohan, back from injury, running riot with the right back and showing he has not lost that turn of pace and after beating the right back a number of times was very unlucky not to see his trademark superb crosses not able unable to be finished off in the first 25 minutes. Not the last you'll hear of our own Stanley Matthews on the wing.

As the game progressed it showed Finchampstead were organized and attack minded - having three up for most of the first half. The defence handled this well and there was not too much for Big Hands Wiggins at the back to do but when called upon one very good save to his left kept the opposition out.

25 min: It has to be said against the run of play, a Finchampstead move down the right ended up with a tangle in the box, which seems to be after the ball had been won, but the ref call a penalty. 0-1 with a finely taken strike.

Would the Colts heads drop after what they may have seen as an injustice? No way!

33min: Back on the attach and it was down to another fabulous delivery from Ben, this time from a right sided corner, and Kaya up from the back had the easiest of tap in (or a 30 yard op corner you may be led to believe?) for 1-1.
(NB at this point WhatsApp goes into meltdown with Kaya's mum (Jasemin "OMG'ing" with the best of them that her boy had scored a goal!)

HT: One more chance before half time comes to nothing and it's all tied at half time. Fairly matched half, enjoyable end to end play and the Colts have it all to play for.

46 min: Second half continued as the first, Hampton on top but Finchampstead probably getting a few more chances as the game opened up.

55 min: after a couple of phases of play the ball ricochets and lands at Archie's feet and he dispatches a thunderous drive to take the Colts 2-1 into the lead. 15 to go.

60 min: Corner to FHD (can't keep typing "Finchamstead" Arggh!) and poor marking against a very well delivered corner, some of the most consistently good corners we have seen all season, ends with a towering leap and powerful header and we're back all square. 2-2.

Ten to go and even though deflated every time they let a goal in, they don’t like it, the Colts team rose again and attack was the aim to get the victory their overall play definitely just deserved.

This could still go either way…

62 min: A FHD attack down the right and a last ditch challenge from Charlie saw the ball loop up and just have enough kinetic energy to take it over the bar as all looked on.

WhatsApp cries of "Hang in there boys!!!!" did not portray the pattern of the game and not to be beaten they went on the offensive once again.

66 min: Ben back on for the last 5, as the squad rotates, and with is first touch, a corner from the right, a cracking cross and there was Kaya to complete his brace and take us into a 3-2 lead and more importantly making his mum very happy. (Jasemin was now at pitch side, so WhatsApp community did not have to take another OMG bashing! :-) )

Still time for the opposition to have one last attach and the defence pushing the attacker wide just did enough to result in the ensuing shot just going wide.

70 min - FT – 3-2 - Cracking game ; well-deserved win! (apologies to the WhatsApp group for the delaying in confirming but we were all in the moment!)

Special other mentions - Arvin was magnificent - every blade of grass cover (at least 10 times!) and suppress the FHD attack time and time again; Danny Munton's performance was absolutely fantastic - tackling, distribution and general attitude was a real credit to him and look forward to seeing much more of that.

Coaches man of the match; A very hard fought decision this week, and Leo having to adapt to a new position and facing a real threat down the wing did a tremendous job and warmly received the award (well bag of Haribos at least? I think we must have lost the award?) Well done young man – I think I even heard you dad throw out a few compliments!! :- ) .

Fantastic. Resilient. Compelling watching. As we left, the sun was still shining and the great big smiles on Colts faces brightened the day further.

Well done boys.